"Holly," a twenty year old Artemis impatiently knocked on the door, "I understand that the female sex takes a longer time to get ready, but this is just ridiculous."
"Fuck you, Fowl," the fairy snarled through the bathroom door, "I am NOT wearing this monstrosity."
"Holly," Artemis shook his head, "I understand that you're not used to this type of attire, but I am sorry to say that it is all we have that fits you. Besides, you don't see me complaining."
"Bullshit," she screamed, "you know damned well that that isn't the reason for this. You could easily have ordered something that I'd be more comfortable in. And I don't give a shit about how you feel in your clothes. At least you got to pick them out."
"Perhaps," Artemis smiled, "but would I ever pass an opportunity like this up?"
She sighed on the other side of the door; "I suppose not," Artemis heard her clothes fall to the floor as she changed into a more human fashion. She stepped out of the bathroom, "Happy?" she asked, not making eye contact.
"Extremely," Artemis said, "it's not every day I get to see you in a skirt," he scanned the elf. Jean skirt about two inches above her knees, reasonably short considering her height, and a plain pink t-shirt. "Aren't you forgetting something?" he tapped her on the ears.
"Are you serious?" she said, "it's broiling outside."
"Do you want your status as a fairy exposed?"
"Fine," she reluctantly went back into the bathroom, grabbed the beanie hat, and put it on her head effectively covering her pointed ears, "can we go?"
"Not quite," Artemis pulled out a pen and held it up.
"What?" Holly said with a snigger, "you gonna write this moment in your little diary?"
"Not quite," Artemis pushed the top of the pen and it emitted a bright flash.
"You little shit," she said as she lunged for the camera-pen. However, Artemis' height advantage proved too much for Holly to overcome. "You realize I know countless ways to kill you, right?"
"Yes I do," he pocketed the pen, "but do you realize that I'm not a pre-pubescent boy fighting against the fairies? I've gotten a lot smarter since those days, Holly." She couldn't deny it. She had, somewhat reluctantly, watched this boy grow, both physically and mentally…Well, mostly mentally at least. Sure, he had grown significantly taller since his teen years, but he was still the scrawny weakling he was back then. It would be easy for her to take him down and steal the pen. "I've made sure to have back-up plans for any and every situation. For example, if you refuse to go out in those clothes, that photograph will be displayed on every monitor at the LEP." she tackled him and took the pen from his pocket. He didn't even put up a fight.
"Well isn't that too bad," she said as she stood up. He still didn't react to the stolen pen, "looks like your backup plan failed," she took the pen in both hands and snapped it in half. She smiled wickedly at him. "What now, Fowl?"
"Like I said," he said as he got to his feet, "a backup plan for any and every situation."
The smile disappeared from Holly's face as she realized what had just happened, "No…No you didn't."
Vinyáya was pissed off enough as it was having to deal with a huge stack of papers on her desk. It didn't help that a strange medley of laughter, shouting, and cheering suddenly burst out everywhere. "What the hell is happening out there?" Vinyáya said, too wiped out from the tedious paperwork to do anything.
Suddenly Foaly entered her office, "Foaly," she leaned forward on her desk, putting her head in her hands, "what's going on?"
"Um…well…about that. It might be better if I showed you," the centaur walked up to her desk and cleared some papers away so that he could get at he computer. He turned it on.
Vinyáya turned to the centaur, unsure of what to make of this, "Foaly, is this—"
"It's legitimate," he finished, "I've already done all the tests."
Vinyáya's face lit up and she suddenly burst into laughter at the picture of Captain Holly Short in a short skirt and a pink shirt.
Aren't intro chapters fun? Please review and stay tuned for more on Running Afowl